services companies in
North America and their
increasing need to buy
in innovative new technologies means that a not
inconsiderable number of
Fin Tech firms have set up
shop there.

n FinTech Focus

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Another crucial hub in
the global financial technology marketplace is London,
where the City’s appeal as
a base for financial institutions offering products and
services in Europe and the
Americas has seen it attract
all kinds of ancillary industries that feed the financial
behemoth. Singapore too
is using its central location,
relatively liberal regulatory
environment and strong
colonial ties to turn itself
into the biggest hub in the
Asia Pacific region.

So what about
Switzerland, the host of this
year’s Sibos?

According to those onthe frontline, the country isa little late to the Fin Techparty, but its traditionallystrong presence in key areassuch as insurance andwealth managementmeans it should not beunderestimated.

“Switzerland has a really
strong finance community
but has been late to get
onboard with developing Fin Tech,” said John
Hucker, president of the
Swiss Finance + Technology
Association, and organisation committed to developing the presence of financial
technology companies in
Switzerland.

But, he adds, “we’re nowgetting accelerators involvedin Fin Tech here, the bigbanks and issuers are alsoonboard and things arereally starting to take off.”It seems a no brainer

n“The best way to understand an industry is to be close to it and soit is important to overlap physicallywith the industry you are targeting.”